National Library of Scotland

A great landmark for Edinburgh and a lovely learning center. Booked a lil 30min guided tour, led by Artair, whose enthusiasm and pride for this library (and libraries/librarians in general) was greatly appreciated and amazing to see. Learned a lot in that short time and visited the two free exhibits, which were sweet love letters to these institutions. Definitely would visit again! Thank you Artair!

The National Library of Scotland is not just a venue; it's a journey through Scottish heritage and culture. As a wedding photographer, I found this place to be a treasure trove of picturesque spots, perfect for capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments. The architecture of the George IV Bridge building alone is awe-inspiring, making every photo shoot here uniquely elegant and filled with character. Inside, the library houses a rich collection of Scottish history that adds an intellectual allure to the romantic atmosphere, ideal for couples who appreciate depth in their venue choice. The staff were incredibly accommodating, helping to ensure that everything went smoothly from setup to the final shot. Additionally, the coffee shop on the premises was a delightful spot to relax and refresh during a busy day. It provided a warm, inviting space to review shots and plan the next set of captures with the couple. Overall, the National Library of Scotland offers more than just a beautiful backdrop; it provides a story-rich setting that enhances any event, especially weddings. Highly recommend for those looking to add a touch of historical grandeur to their special day.

Don’t be put off wandering into here on the fact this is a reference library, even if you don’t enjoy reading this is worth the free wander in just to see the beautiful slightly art deco entrance & staircases flooded with light. There is a simple snack cafe with numerous tables & nooks, clean toilets, a gift shop that focuses on Scottish authors (including well known & current modern ones), & a selection of items & gifts made in Scotland. Free wifi A small museum with a regularly changing theme. The art work & exhibits can be browsed by the general public. As this is a research facility with 7 million books, some hugely significant items & 2 million maps, there may indeed be something you want to browse. To do so you must register for free upstairs. This also allows access to the reading rooms. As this was my first time the lady on the desk kindly explained what sorts of topics could be found & the strict rules of no photos, bags, food, drink, even lip balms are allowed inside (to protect the historical integrity of the books). There is old wooden lockers beside the cafe to store personal belongings at £1. Quite a full program of various related topics can be found. And if you want a more traditional library, just hop directly across the road. And if you have a fear of books there is a museum, graveyard spooks, the Old Town & Royal Mile 5 min in every direction!

Beautiful. I loved the exhibition areas. Give yourself time to look around and enjoy the space. There is no fee to enter but they do take donations. Support the library! If you have a book request you can make it at the reading room desk and the librarians will pull the materials from the stacks for you. Pro tip you do not need to be a Scottish resident to get a library card.

Wonderful building and helpful staff. By chance we were dropped by coach opposite and were very pleased to visit the library as we use their mapping website often. Very nice items in the shop, all with a connection to the library (no tacky tartan plastic!) Good tea and cake in refreshment area.

We went into the library for a quiet and peaceful place to hide during the fringe festival. The staff at the door were so understanding, kind and helpful, pointed out where was best to spend an hour where we were least likely to be disturbed. We adored the exhibitions that were on and just had a wonderfully peaceful recharge waiting for an evening tour to start.

Not a work-friendly place. You can’t even bring water into the reading room – are we in the Middle Ages? The internet connection is unreliable, and your personal belongings – even a private notebook – are inspected when you leave. The staff is extremely unfriendly, and half of the lockers are broken. This is such a stark contrast with the Central Library across the street, which may be in worse physical condition but is far more human, welcoming, and reasonable.

Very nice staff, one of them, a tall young man, was very helpful and even gave us references for restaurants in the area. We were a bit underwhelmed by the book section itself, but seems ideal to work! Great exhibition as well, which we only had time to go briefly to.